Indicator



Patented .iai 1?, ieze.

earn are mean cri ics,

- INDICATOR.

Application filed October 19, 1921. Serial No. 508,797.

To all whom it may concern I Be it known that I, NnwnLL CHANDLER MoGoNAHY, a citizen of the United States,

residing at Tyrone, in the county of Blair and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Indicators, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists in a new and useful improvement in indicators, and is designed more particularly for use in connection with that class of liquid level indicators generally used on automobiles to indicate the level of oil in the crank case of the engine.

The particularly valuable feature of my invention is the co-operation between the operative arts actuated by the variation of the liquid level and the operative parts de signed to indicate the liquid level. Ihave provided an actuating rod which impinges upon a lever which operates the pointer of the indicator. Thus I have obviated any mechanical connection between the parts actuated by the liquid level and the parts operating the pointer. This feature is of great utility in connection with the installation of my device, since it ispossible by the use of my construction to properly proportion the operative parts and accurately adjust them at the factory, thus obviating any adjustment at the time of installation. The device consists of a float tank, with an operating rod, which is applied to the crank case and a housing for the indicator mechanism which is applied to the instrument board. Both of these parts after being'adjusted at thefactory are sealed, and it is only necessary to insert the end of the operating rod into its socket in the housing to install the device.

Another valuable feature of my device is its ability to indicate a superfluous supply as well as an inadequate supply of oil inthe I crank case.

Another important feature is the fact that my device is operated by the buoyant effect of the oil to indicate an increasing supply and by spring action to indicate a decreasing supply, thus avoiding any dependence upon the gravital action of the float for ac tuation.

My invention is fully disclosed in the details of construction illustrated in the drawings and hereinafter fully described, but it is to be understood that 1 indicated herein only one specific embodiment-of my invention and refer for its scope to the claims appended hereto.

In the drawings: I Fig. v1 is a side elevation, partly in sec tion, of a'portion of an automobile showing my improved indicator installed.

Fig; 2 is a top plan view showing the in stallat'ion of the float tank.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the float tank.

Fig.4 is a front elevation of the indicator mechanism;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section through the 'indicator mechanism. 7

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the indicator mechanism.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the indicator mechanism.

In Fig. 1 I have indicated sufficient parts of the engine and frame of an automobile to show the installation of my indicator. T he engine E is provided with a crank case E having a flange E The float tank T is provided with a bracket T having an offset T through which is received the bolt E which thereby attaches the tank T to the crank case E The tank T is provided with an inlet pipe T which is adaptedto be connected at the opening in the crank case designed to receive the lower pet-cock. Inside the tank T, a pivot bearing T is provided at a point on one of the end walls of the tank T mid-way between its top and bottom. When the tank T is installed, it is so positioned that this hearing T is level with the upper pet-cock E of the crank case E In this hearing T is pivoted a lever T" carrying on its outer end the float T Immediately above the inner end of this lever T the tank T is provided with an upwardly extending pipe T which is so proportioned as to extend to a point somewhat below the bottom board B of the automobile when the indicator is installed. A flexible pipe T extends upwardly from the end of the pipe T7, through the bottom board B,

and is attached totheinner face of the dash-- board B This pipe T is curved toward the instrument board B andhas its upper end inserted into a tubular casing vC which passes through the instrument board B The pipe T is provided near its upper end with a collar T which bears against the end of the casing G which is threaded, and a screw collar C surrounds the pipe T and serves to bind the collar T to the end of the casing I plate H is O, and thus join The indicator mechanism contained in a circular housing comprising, a base plate H and a cover member H whlch are fastened together by eye-rivets H through which pass bolts H3 which-pass throughthe instrument board B and are fastened thereto by nuts H thus holding the housing-Se curely to the instrument boardvB The provided t the proper point with a transverse bolt H? which is screwed into the adjacent end of the casing C and is provided 'with a central bore H communieating with the interior of-the casing C. The interior otthe casing C a-d'acent the "bolt H has a reduced portion (J2 and the the upper end W oi the wire .Wis'exposed' within the housing. It will be apparent that the upward movement of the float T causes the projection of the wire. W into the housing and a corresponding lowering of the float T causes the retraction of the wire 'W. a

Suitably mounted on the plate H are three studs H upon which is fastened the dial l) by means of screws H A plate P is riveted to the plate H and studs P serve to fasten a second plate P adjacent the dial D, to the'plate P. Journale'd in these plates P and P is a shaft S centrally disposed relative to the 7 housing and extending through the center of the dial D,.and provided witha 'pli nion S Journaledin the plates P and a 1 is a, rock shaft S upon which is mounted a segmental rack S meshing 'withthe pinion S On the plate H adjacent the fp'lateP is a screw threaded lug M-in which is 'earriedsathreaded bolt M having ahead M and provided with two lock nuts M Loosely mounted on said bolt between the head Mfand the nuts h 3 is a collar 1* provided'with an arm M which impinges the radial arm S? oi'the segmental rack S and a lever M which is provided with afplate M disposed over the inner opening of the bore in the bolt H and against which the end -W of the wire I W impinges when the device is installed;

The cover member H -has a bezel H which serves to confine the transparent plate H against a filler ring H interthe pipe T and the cas posed between itand the dial D. In the v to zero reading. a

.By reason of the peculiar form of mounting of the collarlvlhgitsarm M 'may be adjusted'relative to the arm 3* by. the rotation oithescrew =M which may be aceom plished' by use of either of the slots M and M in therespective ends of the screw M From the foregoing; description of the parts of my device its operation will-boobvious. When the device is installed, the level- 01 oil in the tank T will coincide with the oil level in the crank case E The buoyancy oi the float Ti will cause it to respond to the oil pressure and through the lever T will move the wire W. The reciprocationof the wire N -will oscillate the plate M and lever M and consequently oscillate the arm'l which will cause the segmental rack S to actuate the-pinion- S and thus cause the pointer PS to. travelove-r the dial D. It is to be particularly. noted that when the oi-llevel decrease and (the-float descends the spring is permitted tovrestore the parts to" normal position. Thus it'is apparent that my device; depends upon the buoyanteftectsoi the oil and the operation of the spring to insure ,an'a'ccurate indication of the oillevel in the crank case,jwhieh materially coma-beware the efficiency, and reliability of the device-.' Q Having described my invention, what I claim is: 1 j I i In an indicator, .the combination of a housing provided with an opening; a pointer movably mounted in said housing; a lever pivotallyinounted in said housing; a closure plate attaohedtosaid lever/and normally resting against-saidhousing over its opening; inea'ns operated by said lever and adapted to move said pointer; a'tubular'casin-g attached to the outside of said housing; "a flexible-conduit adapted to be removably attached to said casingganda reciproeable member independently housed inv said conduit and said casing and adapted to be protruded into said housing through its opening and implnge against "said plate to move said lever.

In testimony whereeif-Iafii-X signature. I

N; CHANDLER cooNAHr 

